Sterilizable handpiece of the slip-sleeve type

ABSTRACT

An electrically operated handpiece for use in surgical and dental work adapted to be assembled to a micromotor by a slipsleeve is described. The assembly is provided with a tubular body, fitting around the slip-sleeve. Fastening means are provided for releasably securing the handpiece to the micromotor. A resilient protective sleeve extends over the tubular body as well as at least part of the motor to prevent contact between the micromotor and the hands of an operator.

ilnited States Patent Garnier Apr. 25, 1972 54] STERILIZABLE HANDPIECEOF THE 3,210,847 10/1965 Prufer ..32/27 SLIP SLEEVE E 3,448,309 6/l969Epp ..310/51 3,509,629 5/1970 Kidokoro ..32/27 [72] Inventor: MarcelGarnier, Besancon, France [73] Assignee: Micro Mega S.A., Besancon,France Primary E mminer Robert Peshock [22] Filed; Jul 28, 1969Att0rneyRobert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato 21 Appl. No.: 845,342

[57] ABSTRACT For gn App Priority Data An electrically operatedhandpiece for use in surgical and 0m. 29 1968 France 17l85O dema' wmkadapted to be assembled a mimmow by a slip-sleeve is described. Theassembly is provided with a tubu- 52 us. Cl ..32/27, 32/30 body, fittingaround the Slip-Sleeve Fastening means are [51] hm Cl provided forreleasably securing the handpiece to the [58] Field of Search ..32/26,29, 30, 27, 26 micromotor- A resilien protecti e slee e extends over thetubular body as well as at least part of the motor to prevent con- [56]References Cited tact between the micromotor and the hands of anoperator.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Whiteside ..32/DIG.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure STERILIZABLE HANDPIECE OF THE SLIP-SLEEVETYPE This invention relates to electrically operated handpieces used insurgical and dental work. More particularly it relates to sterilizablehandpieces operated by micromotors to which they are assembled byfastening means known as a slip-sleeve.

When used with sterilized handpieces, the conventional slip-sleeve typeof assembly has a serious drawback. Since the motor cannot besterilized, there is a danger of soiling the handpiece if the hand ofthe user contacts the motor, for example, during the assembly of theunit.

In a co-pending application Ser. No. 730,839 filed May 21st, 1968 thereis disclosed and claimed an arrangement wherein the handpiece isprovided with a protecting sleeve at least partly covering themicromotor to prevent contact between it and the hands of the operator,and means for releasably connecting the protective sleeve to themicromotor.

While the arrangement disclosed in the above application fully meets itspurpose of preserving the sterile condition of the handpiece, it isstill relatively costly because the protecting sleeve is made of metaland because it requires a somewhat intricate fastening means.

It is the object of this invention to provide a sterilizable handpiecewhich comprises means for preventing contact between the hand of theoperator and the motor, as well as suitable fastening means which aremore economical and easier to connect to the motor.

In accordance with one feature of the invention the handpiece isextended in the direction of the motor by means of a removably orfixedly mounted sleeve made of flexible material which is positioned soas to cover at least part of the motor.

The invention may be better understood from the following descriptiongiven by way of example as well as from the accompanying drawing whichgives a schematic view of the device, partly in cross section.

By referring to the drawing it may be seen that the handpiece or anglepiece 1 terminates in the direction facing the motor in a tubular body 2which fits around the cylindrical extension 5 of the motor. The latteris commonly known as a slip-sleeve.

At the end facing the motor the tubular body 2 is provided with aninternal circular groove 4.

The extension 5 which forms part of the motor is provided with anannular groove at its front end and a longitudinal groove whichrespectively houses an annular portion 6 and a rectilinear portion of aleaf spring 7. The leaf spring is provided with a projection or stud 8which owing to the resiliency of the leaf spring penetrates the groove 4provided in the tubular body 2 so as to immobilize the body 2 in thelongitudinal direction. The spring 7 extends towards the motor and itsend (not shown) is acted upon by a push button 9 integral with the motor3. By depressing the push button 9 the leaf spring 7 is pushed towardsthe bottom of the groove thereby clearing the stud 8 and making itpossible to disconnect the handpiece.

To prevent the user from touching the non-sterilized motor 3 whenassembling or operating the unit, the tubular body 2 is protected by anouter sleeve 10 made of rubber, the rear part 11 of which has a diameterlarger than the front part and is extended to surround the motor 3,leaving a space between its internal wall and motor 3. The space definedin this manner makes it possible for the air flow around the motor andprevents the part 11 of sleeve 10 from exerting pressure on the pushbutton 9.

All the user has to do to disengage the handpiece is to press on rubbersleeve 10 at the point of the location of push button 9, which pushesthe spring inward and makes it possible to disengage the handpiece.

It goes without saying that the sterilizable sleeve 11 may be made of amaterial other than rubber providing it has similar resilientproperties. The sleeve may be firmly secured onto the handpiece or elsebe mounted so as to allow for its easy particular embodiment thereof, itis not limited thereto, as

changes and modifications can be made in its form, materials etc.without departing from its scope and spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable dental tool, a sterilizable handpiece comprising ahollow tubular body, a small electric motor for driving a dental toolduring use, a slip sleeve on said motor insertable axially into saidhollow tubular body for mounting the handpiece on the motor, a manuallyoperable, depressable connector means on said slip sleeve for releasablysecuring the handpiece to said slip sleeve for slipping on and off thehandpiece onto and off of said slip sleeve for connecting anddisconnecting the handpiece to said slip sleeve, a flexible, protectivesterilizable sleeve having a first portion circumferentially of saidtubular body a frictionally axially held thereon and a second portion ofgreater inner diameter than said first portion extending axially over apart of said motor and circumferentially spaced therefrom to allow freeflow of air around the motor, said sterilizable sleeve having saidportions joined along an axial area of jointure, said depressable meansincluding an actuator on said motor for selectively operating saidconnector, by flexing of said second portion of said sleeve inwardly toactuate said actuator for disconnecting the handpiece from the motor.

2. In a portable surgical tool according to claim 1, in which saidconnector comprises a leaf spring having a projection, said hollow slipsleeve having an opening for receiving said projection, and saidactuator comprising a depressable pushbutton for selectively disengagingsaid projection from said opening.

1. In a portable dental tool, a sterilizable handpiece comprising ahollow tubular body, a small electric motor for driving a dental toolduring use, a slip sleeve on said motor insertable axially into saidhollow tubular body for mounting the handpiece on the motor, a manuallyoperable, depressable connector means on said slip sleeve for releasablysecuring the handpiece to said slip sleeve for slipping on and off thehandpiece onto and off of said slip sleeve for connecting anddisconnecting the handpiece to said slip sleeve, a flexible, protectivesterilizable sleeve having a first portion circumferentially of saidtubular body a frictionally axially held thereon and a second portion ofgreater inner diameter than said first portion extending axially over apart of said motor and circumferentially spaced therefrom to allow freeflow of air around the motor, said sterilizable sleeve having saidportions joined along an axial area of jointure, said depressable meansincluding an actuator on said motor for selectively operating saidconnector, by flexing of said second portion of said sleeve inwardly toactuate said actuator for disconnecting the handpiece from the motor. 2.In a portable surgical tool according to claim 1, in which saidconnector comprises a leaf spring having a projection, said hollow slipsleeve having an opening for receiving said projection, and saidactuator comprising a depressable pushbutton for selectively disengagingsaid projection from said opening.